Is this a window?

[gailrmv]

hi! I''m just trying to learn.... this is a stone I am considering purchasing.

Can you tell me from the picture if what I am seeing is a window? This is a 7 mm square cushion cut sapphire. I can see through the middle, but there is faceting - it''s not competely see through like to read the newspaper through it.

Is this a "window" or is it just a characteristic of stones of this size?

Thanks much!

 

[gailrmv]

another shot. I am a horrible photographer. These are in natural light on a white towel.

 

[FrekeChild]

Looks like one to me. Do you have any pics of the side or bottom of the stone?

 

[gailrmv]

Date: 6/24/2008 11:53:06 AM
Author: FrekeChild
Looks like one to me. Do you have any pics of the side or bottom of the stone?

I can take some. What would I be looking for from the side and bottom view?

ETA just realized battery died, will be a while on more views.

 

[gailrmv]

Couple more pics. I otherwise really like the stone, but the window (if that is what it is) is very distracting. No worries, the vendor has been more than great and is already searching for another!

 

[gailrmv]

one more. I took a bunch, but most are blurry.

 

[gailrmv]

Anyway, I''m just trying to learn. Is it a window if you still see faceting, or to be a window does it have to be totally see through, like where you can read through it?

Thanks again!

 

[FrekeChild]

It's a beautiful color and a great size. Windows can be from bad cutting- being not deep enough or too deep. Size really doesn't have anything to do with it. I have two stones (I'll attach a pic) one is a teal indicolite that's 4.3 mmx 5.2mm (at .56cts) that has a pretty blatant window and icky cut but I liked the color so much, I bought it anyway. The indicolite is pretty badly cut-very fat and deep. I can take a pic of them from the side if you like

The other is a silver topaz and 7.4cts and 10.2mm x 12.2mm and does not have a window-although it's pretty hard to take a pic of. In real life it's like looking straight into a very small lightbulb.

Anyway, I hope it helps. And the indicolite is under 10x magnification through a loupe.

 

[Skippy123]

Hi G!! I am always happy to see your threads! I love the color but you are right there is a window!! How are you?

 

[gailrmv]

Thanks, Freke! I see the window for sure in the first stone. I don't really see it in the second, but I've got "newbie" eyes for this. Both stones are really cool - i can see why you love the color!

Yeah, the size, color, clarity, and price are great, but if indeed this is a window and is not always present in cushion cut stones, well, I guess I'll have to return it and move on to the next.

ETA I didn't see the window of the second stone because you said there is not one! Yay! I am learning!!

 

[gailrmv]

Date: 6/24/2008 12:31:50 PM
Author: Skippy123
Hi G!! I am always happy to see your threads! I love the color but you are right there is a window!! How are you?

Thanks Skippy! It is great to hear from you too! Sorry I have not been on the WWT much in a while. I felt like I ran out of things to say - same old same old! When it moved to the new area I kind of stopped going over there. I hope you are doing great and enjoying all those great walks that you take!! I loved seeing the photos of your recent PS meet ups with Monnie and in Chicago!

Are you getting to wear your beautiful sapphire art deco piece?

I hope all''s well with you!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 6/24/2008 12:34:54 PM
Author: TanDogMom


Thanks Skippy! It is great to hear from you too! Sorry I have not been on the WWT much in a while. I felt like I ran out of things to say - same old same old! When it moved to the new area I kind of stopped going over there. I hope you are doing great and enjoying all those great walks that you take!! I loved seeing the photos of your recent PS meet ups with Monnie and in Chicago!

Are you getting to wear your beautiful sapphire art deco piece?

I hope all's well with you!

Oh thanks sweetie! Well pop in when you can to say hi, we miss you! Thanks, I am glad you liked the pics, it was fun to meet so many PS'ers; I hope you guys get a NC one together!!! Too bad you aren't closer to where I live; it would be fun to meet you.

I don't wear the art deco brooch, I need an occassion to wear it to. hehe I love it and am sort of missing it but it is in the safety deposit box so I need to make a trip to visit it. You are soooo sweet to ask, thank you!

Tell me about this project, pls!!! You have such a nice collection of jewelry!!!

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 6/24/2008 12:32:11 PM
Author: TanDogMom
Thanks, Freke! I see the window for sure in the first stone. I don''t really see it in the second, but I''ve got ''newbie'' eyes for this. Both stones are really cool - i can see why you love the color!

Yeah, the size, color, clarity, and price are great, but if indeed this is a window and is not always present in cushion cut stones, well, I guess I''ll have to return it and move on to the next.

ETA I didn''t see the window of the second stone because you said there is not one! Yay! I am learning!!

Yay!!! I remember the first time I read about windows, and everyone was like, "Well it''s a nice color and shape, but it had a small/medium/large window..." and I was like, "What the HECK are you guys talking about?" I had absolutely no idea what was going on-much less what a window was.

That topaz is really hard to take a straight on pic of because of the light reflection, but it does have 6 facets forming kind of a hexagon. Being that the stone is huge, most of the facets are pretty big too.

Anyway, I''m glad I could help out a little bit!

(I am still not sure what extinction is btw. I think it''s also a result of bad cutting-dark areas of the stone where light goes through the facets instead of being reflected-but I have no clue.) It''s an ongoing process I guess...

 

[gailrmv]

Date: 6/24/2008 12:44:37 PM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 6/24/2008 12:32:11 PM

Author: TanDogMom

Thanks, Freke! I see the window for sure in the first stone. I don't really see it in the second, but I've got 'newbie' eyes for this. Both stones are really cool - i can see why you love the color!


Yeah, the size, color, clarity, and price are great, but if indeed this is a window and is not always present in cushion cut stones, well, I guess I'll have to return it and move on to the next.


ETA I didn't see the window of the second stone because you said there is not one! Yay! I am learning!!

Yay!!! I remember the first time I read about windows, and everyone was like, 'Well it's a nice color and shape, but it had a small/medium/large window...' and I was like, 'What the HECK are you guys talking about?' I had absolutely no idea what was going on-much less what a window was.


That topaz is really hard to take a straight on pic of because of the light reflection, but it does have 6 facets forming kind of a hexagon. Being that the stone is huge, most of the facets are pretty big too.


Anyway, I'm glad I could help out a little bit!


(I am still not sure what extinction is btw. I think it's also a result of bad cutting-dark areas of the stone where light goes through the facets instead of being reflected-but I have no clue.) It's an ongoing process I guess...

Thanks Freke! I am still learning about extinction too. I saw it in another stone I was looking at, but I wasn't sure what caused it. I thought it was due to cut but then someone explained that it was due to uneven coloration, so I'm not sure. I am so grateful to PS folks for explaining things and for all the great pics - otherwise I would have even less a clue than I do now when it comes to these gemstones.

Your indicolite is so cool - I have never heard of that stone before! Do you have plans to set it? Both the stones are beautiful!

 

[gailrmv]

Date: 6/24/2008 12:41:09 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 6/24/2008 12:34:54 PM

Author: TanDogMom



Thanks Skippy! It is great to hear from you too! Sorry I have not been on the WWT much in a while. I felt like I ran out of things to say - same old same old! When it moved to the new area I kind of stopped going over there. I hope you are doing great and enjoying all those great walks that you take!! I loved seeing the photos of your recent PS meet ups with Monnie and in Chicago!


Are you getting to wear your beautiful sapphire art deco piece?


I hope all''s well with you!

Oh thanks sweetie! Well pop in when you can to say hi, we miss you! Thanks, I am glad you liked the pics, it was fun to meet so many PS''ers; I hope you guys get a NC one together!!! Too bad you aren''t closer to where I live; it would be fun to meet you.


I don''t wear the art deco brooch, I need an occassion to wear it to. hehe I love it and am sort of missing it but it is in the safety deposit box so I need to make a trip to visit it. You are soooo sweet to ask, thank you!

Tell me about this project, pls!!! You have such a nice collection of jewelry!!!

hi Skippy! I would absolutely love to meet you as well! Maybe someday we will have the chance to! That would be great. I''ve always wanted to go to that hot air balloon festival in your city that you posted pics of a while back. Maybe someday!

That brooch is amazing. I don''t know when I would have occasion to wear it either, but what an awesome piece just to have, ya know? Especially since it is a family piece if I''m remembering right - I love when things have history to them.

So, this project... I am planning to set the sapphire in a thin halo as a RHR! I am so excited, I have dreamed of a sapphire RHR since as long as I can remember. Originally I was looking at slightly smaller stones, but decided to go a bit bigger. I;m thinking about either an antiquey halo or a modern one, not sure yet. Probably something with thin micropave. I think once I find the stone the setting will fall into place. Thanks for asking!!

Thanks for the compliment on my collection! I guess it is growing a piece at a time! I''m about done after this RHR though! (Well, I say that now, hee hee...) I would love to get into collecting loose gemstones, not even expensive ones but just cool ones, but I''m not sure what the DH will think

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 6/24/2008 12:55:28 PM
Author: TanDogMom

Date: 6/24/2008 12:44:37 PM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 6/24/2008 12:32:11 PM
Author: TanDogMom
Thanks, Freke! I see the window for sure in the first stone. I don't really see it in the second, but I've got 'newbie' eyes for this. Both stones are really cool - i can see why you love the color!

Yeah, the size, color, clarity, and price are great, but if indeed this is a window and is not always present in cushion cut stones, well, I guess I'll have to return it and move on to the next.

ETA I didn't see the window of the second stone because you said there is not one! Yay! I am learning!!

Yay!!! I remember the first time I read about windows, and everyone was like, 'Well it's a nice color and shape, but it had a small/medium/large window...' and I was like, 'What the HECK are you guys talking about?' I had absolutely no idea what was going on-much less what a window was.

That topaz is really hard to take a straight on pic of because of the light reflection, but it does have 6 facets forming kind of a hexagon. Being that the stone is huge, most of the facets are pretty big too.

Anyway, I'm glad I could help out a little bit!

(I am still not sure what extinction is btw. I think it's also a result of bad cutting-dark areas of the stone where light goes through the facets instead of being reflected-but I have no clue.) It's an ongoing process I guess...

Thanks Freke! I am still learning about extinction too. I saw it in another stone I was looking at, but I wasn't sure what caused it. I thought it was due to cut but then someone explained that it was due to uneven coloration, so I'm not sure. I am so grateful to PS folks for explaining things and for all the great pics - otherwise I would have even less a clue than I do now when it comes to these gemstones.

Your indicolite is so cool - I have never heard of that stone before! Do you have plans to set it? Both the stones are beautiful!

It's basically just a tourmaline I believe, that is a blue-ish shade. I hadn't really paid any attention to it before, but I saw this stone and another in the case, the other one was larger, darker and cut better, but this one's color just caught my eye (later I figured out it matches my cell phone, a purse and several items of clothing-no wonder I liked it!). It was only $14, so I said, why not? I'm thinking that I will set it east west in a plain-ish silver band. Likely silver because it's cheap and it's not like I spent a lot on the stone. Either way, I'll have to wait a while to get it done until my funds come back up, because I spent all extra cash on gemstones. Lol. Whatever.

So you're looking for a blue sapphire cushion? What are you thinking about doing with it?

ETA: I just saw you posted it on your reply to Skippy-I'll go read now!

ETA: Skippy and I are both in Albuquerque, NM. Heh...

 

[gailrmv]

Date: 6/24/2008 1:02:55 PM
Author: FrekeChild

Date: 6/24/2008 12:55:28 PM

Author: TanDogMom

Date: 6/24/2008 12:44:37 PM

Author: FrekeChild

Date: 6/24/2008 12:32:11 PM

Author: TanDogMom

Thanks, Freke! I see the window for sure in the first stone. I don''t really see it in the second, but I''ve got ''newbie'' eyes for this. Both stones are really cool - i can see why you love the color!


Yeah, the size, color, clarity, and price are great, but if indeed this is a window and is not always present in cushion cut stones, well, I guess I''ll have to return it and move on to the next.


ETA I didn''t see the window of the second stone because you said there is not one! Yay! I am learning!!

Yay!!! I remember the first time I read about windows, and everyone was like, ''Well it''s a nice color and shape, but it had a small/medium/large window...'' and I was like, ''What the HECK are you guys talking about?'' I had absolutely no idea what was going on-much less what a window was.


That topaz is really hard to take a straight on pic of because of the light reflection, but it does have 6 facets forming kind of a hexagon. Being that the stone is huge, most of the facets are pretty big too.


Anyway, I''m glad I could help out a little bit!


(I am still not sure what extinction is btw. I think it''s also a result of bad cutting-dark areas of the stone where light goes through the facets instead of being reflected-but I have no clue.) It''s an ongoing process I guess...

Thanks Freke! I am still learning about extinction too. I saw it in another stone I was looking at, but I wasn''t sure what caused it. I thought it was due to cut but then someone explained that it was due to uneven coloration, so I''m not sure. I am so grateful to PS folks for explaining things and for all the great pics - otherwise I would have even less a clue than I do now when it comes to these gemstones.


Your indicolite is so cool - I have never heard of that stone before! Do you have plans to set it? Both the stones are beautiful!

It''s basically just a tourmaline I believe, that is a blue-ish shade. I hadn''t really paid any attention to it before, but I saw this stone and another in the case, the other one was larger, darker and cut better, but this one''s color just caught my eye (later I figured out it matches my cell phone, a purse and several items of clothing-no wonder I liked it!). It was only $14, so I said, why not? I''m thinking that I will set it east west in a plain-ish silver band. Likely silver because it''s cheap and it''s not like I spent a lot on the stone. Either way, I''ll have to wait a while to get it done until my funds come back up, because I spent all extra cash on gemstones. Lol. Whatever.


So you''re looking for a blue sapphire cushion? What are you thinking about doing with it?

ETA: I just saw you posted it on your reply to Skippy-I''ll go read now!


ETA: Skippy and I are both in Albuquerque, NM. Heh...

Wow, only $14! Incredible! Some of the coolest looking gemstones are not too expensive... wow! That''s awesome! I love E-W settings.

So neat that you are both in Albuquerque! (Typing your city just now, I realized how hard it must be to teach little kids to spell that in school.)

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 6/24/2008 1:09:48 PM
Author: TanDogMom
Wow, only $14! Incredible! Some of the coolest looking gemstones are not too expensive... wow! That''s awesome! I love E-W settings.

So neat that you are both in Albuquerque! (Typing your city just now, I realized how hard it must be to teach little kids to spell that in school.)

Yeah, only $14. I actually bought 6 gemstones the other day for $106 I think? A pair of Rhodolites around a carat each, a smaller raspberry rhodolite (about 5mm), a tiny 4mm tsavorite, an even tinier 2.75mm demantoid, and my funky indicolite. And I''m clueless as to what to do with most of them...if you want to see pics of them-this is the thread.

As for spelling Albuquerque-luckily it''s phonetic for the most part, but I get mail all of the time that spells it: "Alburquerque (which I think was the original spelling of it actually), Albuqueque, Albuequerque, Albuqurque" and so on. I hope they are from out of state. I don''t think I learned how to spell it until I was about 9 or so, instead always using "Alb" or "ABQ" to abbreviate.

Anyway! I think you should collect loose stones, if you''re thinking this might be it for the jewelry (I''ll believe that when I see it, if you''re anything like me!) I was shocked at how cheap a lot of them are! Do you have any gem stores where you live?

 

[movie zombie]

a nice short tutorial: http://www.collectorfinejewelry.com/quality_4cs.htm

both windowing and extinction are the product of poor cut.

over saturation of color can be a problem but it is not due to cut as is extinction.

movie zombie

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 6/24/2008 2:07:52 PM
Author: movie zombie
a nice short tutorial: http://www.collectorfinejewelry.com/quality_4cs.htm

both windowing and extinction are the product of poor cut.

over saturation of color can be a problem but it is not due to cut as is extinction.

movie zombie

What is over saturation due to?

 

[movie zombie]

also covered in the tutorial right under hue...........

movie zombie

 

[FrekeChild]

Lol. Thanks MZ, I haven''t even looked at it yet.

 

[gailrmv]

Thanks everyone who wrote. The sapphire is going back. It''s otherwise beautiful, but the window will always bug me. I''m going to keep looking. It was educational for sure to spend some time up close with this one!

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 6/25/2008 12:06:46 AM
Author: TanDogMom
Thanks everyone who wrote. The sapphire is going back. It''s otherwise beautiful, but the window will always bug me. I''m going to keep looking. It was educational for sure to spend some time up close with this one!

it always is!

movie zombie